Today we’d like to introduce you to Irene Montantes.
Hi Irene, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
The Los Angeles Baby Cooperative was founded in response to a critical need we identified in our community. When the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted Los Angeles County economically around June 2020, we observed a significant rise in challenges for families. Our distribution center is strategically located in Koreatown, just five minutes from MacArthur Park, an area of Los Angeles that is disproportionately affected by poverty.
Our commitment to community support began long before 2020. For over 30 years, Urban Partners Los Angeles, founded by the late Rochelle McAdam, has provided daily food assistance to hundreds of families in the area. However, with the onset of the pandemic, the number of people in need drastically increased to between 1,000 and 1,500 daily. We also observed long queues specifically for essential infant supplies. As a Board Member of Urban Partners Los Angeles, I recognized the urgent need for action, which led to the founding of the Los Angeles Baby Cooperative.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Thank you for your question regarding the challenges we’ve encountered with Los Angeles Baby Cooperative. It has been a journey with its share of significant hurdles, but we have learned and grown through each one.
We struggled with Organizational Capacity. Initially, we experienced key organizers of the distribution stepping away due to the inherent complexities of establishing and running a non-profit organization focused on community aid.
We also encountered significant challenges in effectively addressing the multifaceted needs of a community struggling with poverty, which required more comprehensive support than initially anticipated.
Also, insufficient funding. A persistent challenge has been securing adequate funds to consistently provide the necessary resources and support for the community we serve. Establishing a sustainable community cooperative involved overcoming various logistical issues, from resource acquisition to distribution and volunteer management.
Despite these obstacles, our cooperative perseverance and dedication have allowed us to continue our mission. We remain committed to our vision and are continuously working to have an impact on our community and to show our community that we can rely on each other to work towards a goal of helping our community thrive after overcoming challenges.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We wanted to clarify a common misconception about the Los Angeles Baby Cooperative. While we do provide essential resources to families in need, our mission extends far beyond simply being a distribution center for “free items.”
At the heart of our organization is a robust leadership program designed to empower community members. This initiative offers individuals the opportunity to take on active leadership roles within the cooperative, learning valuable skills in organizational management, resource utilization, and community building. Through this hands-on experience, participants develop a deeper understanding of how to leverage resources effectively for both their own families and the wider community, fostering a strong, cooperative network.
Currently, our operations are fully managed by community members who have stepped into these leadership positions, driving every aspect of our work. We believe this approach creates a more sustainable and impactful model, truly embodying a cooperative spirit.
I wanted to elaborate on the misconception that our organization is solely a “hand-out” service for those in need. Our mission extends far beyond immediate assistance; it’s about fostering longevity, building trust within the community, and breaking down barriers to facilitate genuine communication and connection among neighbors. In today’s society, it’s increasingly rare for neighbors to interact, offer mutual support, or look out for one another. This kind of communal engagement often requires the active involvement of organizations or grassroots political groups to facilitate it. Our approach isn’t one of being “saviors to the community,” but rather a recognition that, as a society, we lack a deeply embedded culture of mutual care—a culture that is more evident in Indigenous communities but often absent in colonized societies due to a more individualistic complex. We aim to challenge this and cultivate a profound sense of community responsibility and care for our members.
A Final Reflection on Our Shared Moment in Time:
As an organization rooted in compassion and guided by a deep sense of responsibility to our community, we feel compelled to speak from the heart about the times we are living through. We are witnessing troubling signs — not just political or economic shifts, but a deeper erosion of the moral compass that should guide our nation forward.
It pains us to observe a retreat from hard-won social progress, and a troubling indifference among some leaders to the long arc of history — a history that demands accountability, humility, and care for both people and planet. When those entrusted with power fail to acknowledge their role in shaping a just and sustainable future, the consequences ripple far beyond policy. They touch the soul of our society.
We believe that moral leadership is not optional — it is essential. It means honoring the dignity of every human being, protecting the fragile ecosystems that sustain life, and learning from the past rather than repeating its mistakes. Now more than ever, we must choose courage over complacency, empathy over ego, and stewardship over short-term gain.
We must become aware of these drastic changes; otherwise, our children and grandchildren will face a future where they inflict greater harm on subsequent generations and struggle to thrive. Our aim is to see future generations thrive, not merely survive.
This is why commUnity cooperatives, commUnity organizations and commUnity political grassroots movements are essential. We must take a stand and speak out for what is right and just. It is crucial that we do not lose our moral compass and or our humanity, as we are already witnessing the downfall of these values. We cannot allow this situation to worsen.
This is not a moment to look away. It is a moment to lean in — with clarity, with conscience, and with the conviction that a better path is not only possible, but necessary.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite memories involve my mom’s community involvement. Although it was through a religious lens, these activities laid the foundation for who I would become.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lababycooperative.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lababycooperative?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LABabyCooperative?mibextid=wwXIfr
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